WASHINGTON (CNN) - In the weekly Republican radio and Internet address delivered Saturday, Texas Rep. Kevin Brady drilled down on three "myths" he claimed the Obama administration is perpetrating: that "no jobs equals an economic recovery, government-run health care will make it more affordable, and deficits don't matter."

Brady, a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, said he was pleased to see the Dow industrials close over 10,000 this week, but criticized the administration for not doing enough to fix unemployment. He said three million private sector jobs have been lost since the stimulus was passed in February.

The Republican then took aim at the health care legislation currently moving through Congress.

"The second myth, that government-run health care will make it more affordable?" Brady said. "Americans inherently know government interference drives costs up, not down." He claimed that the Democrats want to "allow the government to decide what doctors we can see, what treatments the government thinks you deserve and what medicines you can receive."

Brady said "our children and grandchildren will end up buried under a mountain of debt" if the Obama administration's fiscal agenda continues.

Read the full script after the jump.

“Hi, I’m Congressman Kevin Brady. I’m proud to represent southeast Texas in Congress, and serve as the lead House Republican on the Joint Economic Committee, which keeps tabs on America’s economic health.

“There are three big myths hurtling around Washington these days: no jobs equals an economic recovery, government-run health care will make it more affordable, and deficits don’t matter.

“The American public – to their credit – isn’t buying any of these.

“Start with the economy. We’re all pleased to see the stock market go up, but middle class America knows hundreds of thousands of jobs are disappearing each month. Many of them may never reappear.

“As families in my communities and across the country watch the national unemployment rate close to topping double digits - with very few real signs of relief ahead - they have one question for the White House: ‘Mr. President, where are the jobs?’

“Last January, the White House promised us all that if Congress passed the massive trillion-dollar ‘stimulus’ bill, jobs would be created immediately and the unemployment rate would stay under eight percent.

“Well, since then, nearly 3 million more Americans have lost their private sector jobs. Over 2 million have simply quit looking for work because they are so discouraged. And that’s frightening. And over 9 million Americans are working part time because they can't find a full time job. And those who do worry if they’ll be the next person standing in the unemployment line.

“The second myth, that government-run health care will make it more affordable? Americans inherently know government interference drives costs up, not down. The massive health care plans being crafted behind closed doors in Washington will ultimately allow the government to decide what doctors we can see, what treatments the government thinks you deserve and what medicines you can receive.

“The Democrats’ plans are loaded with new federal mandates and higher taxes on insurance plans, treatments and equipment – all of which will be passed down to patients. New taxes on professionals and small businesses will drive jobs out of our economy and push more families into a government-run plan. At a time when families and workers want more choices and more options, Democrats in Washington are bent on creating a one-size fits all plan that Americans can just take or leave. By the way, these same Democratic members of Congress are making sure they and their families aren’t included in the plan. That should tell you something.

“The third myth: deficits don’t matter? Tell that to your kids and grandkids and see what they have to say thirty years down the road.

“Whether it’s wasteful stimulus spending, a cap-and-trade national energy tax that will put millions more out of work, or the trillion dollar health care experiment, congressional Democrats in Washington are boring new holes in our economic ship at a time when employers throughout America need a life preserver to help them stay afloat.

“Liberal policies that will keep people out of work longer will only make the deficit worse. Americans know that deficits matter to our dollar, to our economy, to our future. The federal budget deficit tripled to a record 1.4 trillion dollars this year. The government spent 199 billion dollars on interest alone - or almost 10 times the entire budget for NASA.

“Under the Obama Administration’s budget, our country is set to rack up 6.7 trillion dollars in debt over the next decade - almost equal to all the federal debt accumulated in our nation’s history. Democrats in Washington continue to pursue costly policies that tax too much, spend too much and borrow too much, all of which are discouraging small businesses from job creation and innovation while launching our national debt into the stratosphere.

“Make no mistake, our children and grandchildren will end up buried under a mountain of debt if we continue down this dangerous path of taxing, spending and borrowing.

“Let’s set aside the myths. Let’s get real.

“Real economic growth starts when the people who have taken the hardest hit in this recession - our small businesses - get back to creating jobs. It's what these businesses that employ more than half our nation's workforce do best. Republicans want to give them new tax relief tools and get out of their way.

“Republicans remain hopeful that this deep and painful recession will soon run its course, but Americans deserve better than a jobless recovery, which is no real recovery at all for American workers and families. Americans deserve affordable health care. And they deserve a nation that can pay its debt and live within its means.

“That’s what Republicans believe. That’s what will create the jobs that will grow our economy and put our nation back on the path to long-term prosperity.

soundoff(62 Responses)

NVa Native

Same old "cry baby" and "victim" rhetoric from the party of "NO".
So because a Democratic President in his first nine months of his Presidency can't fix the horrible economic nightmare (let alone all the other many problems) that the Bush/Cheney regime and Repub controlled Congress inflicted on us for more than eight long years of hell, the Repubs whine about the "fix" isn't quick enough?!

That's like your teenager wrecks the car, and then complains that you and the insurance company don't get him back on the road quick enough so he can drive himself to the Homecoming Game.

And everyone, even those with half a brain (Repubs), knows that historically increases in employment lags behind all other indicators of a recession recovery. And non-partisan economists have been stating since early this year that employment predictably won't start to improve until next year.

The myth that tax breaks for the very wealthy 1% of America work (last eight years) and that the Repubs are responsible with OUR government (last eight years) are just myths that the GOP, Fox media, and hate radio create to distract US from the truth.
The truth is that tax breaks work for, and Repubs are responsible to, their “corporate constituents” best interests only, not the rest of US.

October 17, 2009 09:30 am at 9:30 am |

Larry S

Thanks for someone looking out for the interests of American. It is a pleasure to see some truthfulness rather than hearing all of the lies by the liberals and democrats. The fact is . . . American is being lead into bankrupcy . . . and the news media doesn't care. I wonder why this is and could someone tell me why????

October 17, 2009 09:31 am at 9:31 am |

Angry in S. Texas

Here we go again, obstructionism in the guise of helping the "average" American out... what a hypocrit. You need to get your head out of your collective behinds and get this healthcare reform settled... we the American people are watching with disgust at the misinformation you and your fellow republican obstructionists are speading – enough of the lies!

October 17, 2009 09:38 am at 9:38 am |

Chris

Dick Cheney: "Deficits don't matter." – funny, I didn't realize Dick Cheney was a Democrat! No matter how many times Republicans try to rewrite history and paint Democrats as reckless "tax & spenders", it has always been the "borrow & spend" Republican Administrations that have had the largest deficits.

Yes, and government run health care is such a terrible idea, that's why every other industrialized country in the world has it! The simple fact that in the US medical bills are the leading cause of bankruptcy and in countries with goverment run health care that problem is unknown should be proof enough.

And no one ever said no jobs equals economic recovery. Once again Republicans put words in the President's mouth. He always said that economic recovery was happening, but it would take awhile. The majority of economists agree with him. Unfortunately, jobs are always the last part of the economy to be restored. That's just the nature of the beast, and is no way Obama's fault.

Why doesn't he address some Republican myths while he's at it? Such as: The free market always self-regulates – Tax cuts solve everything – Trickle down economics work – Selfishness is a virture – Acting like a war mongering bully is the surest way to international respect, safety and peace – Republicans want the government to stay out of peoples life yet insist on telling them who they can marry, what a woman can do with her own body, etc.

October 17, 2009 09:41 am at 9:41 am |

BILL, WI

Another myth is the Democrats concept of bipartinsanship. Sen Snowe is on board with most of the details of health care reform. But she has been the target of shrill attacks from the Democrats for her stand. It seems that how they define bipartinsanship whould be you have to agree with us on everything first then we can debate. That is the same position they took to ridicule former Pres Bush. It is too bad they are unable to take the highroad and behave better, and live up to their articulated ideals.

October 17, 2009 09:43 am at 9:43 am |

Roberto Reyes-Colon

The Repubs created this mess,,and now President Obama is cleaning it up. Representative Grayson is totally correct. Come up with solutions or get out of the way...Vote the fools out.

October 17, 2009 09:43 am at 9:43 am |

Moderate

Quote: He claimed that the Democrats want to "allow the government to decide what doctors we can see, what treatments the government thinks you deserve and what medicines you can receive."

How is that different than what insurance companies now do? I'd rather have the government make those decisions than a 'for profit' insurance company.

October 17, 2009 09:45 am at 9:45 am |

Donkey Party

Okay, when will the Republicans admit they are responsible for the position the country is in now? They helped Bush and Cheney turn America into a third world country, and they want to blame it ALL on a democrat president who's been in office less than a year. I used to vote for the best candidates, regardless of political party. I will never vote for any Republican ever again. They and their supporters represent the worst of our society, and no educated person will deny that. I now have such a disgust for them that I hope they and all who share their Draconian views die painful, miserable deaths with no health insurance. They are nothing more than soulless sub-humans.

October 17, 2009 09:46 am at 9:46 am |

Ryan

The Post Office works....

The Military works....

The Police & Fire Dept. work...

Why would a government healthcare plan not work?

Because it would force the insurance industry to lower their costs in competition and the lobbyists for those companies have historically OWNED every Republican Politician. If those companies lose their grip over us, then those Politicians lose their campaign funding. It's very clear and simple...not to mention deceitful.

Insurance Companies have had a 328% profit over 10 years while minimum wage has been 2% and 64% of Americans have NO healthcare because they don't earn enough to afford it and if they do, it's an insane amount of money that results in bills they have to pay off over YEARS.

No other country has dropped their health care system model in favor of our model. NONE.

October 17, 2009 09:47 am at 9:47 am |

anthony

The report from the insurance industry trade group AHIP said that insurance premiums will rise by 79% in ten years if there is no reform. The public option will make that impossible. No insurance company can raise premiums by 79% if there is a public option. So the public option will make insurance more affordable.

October 17, 2009 09:50 am at 9:50 am |

jen

does this republican realize that his republican president came in with a surplus and turn it into a nightmare for eight years. Obama has only been in office for nine months, give him a chance.

October 17, 2009 10:02 am at 10:02 am |

annie s

Yawn. Another Republican distorting reality and offering up the same old failed policies. Some things never change.

October 17, 2009 10:02 am at 10:02 am |

vpdavish

Where was Mr. Brady when the previous administration of his party was piling up debt totaling $1.4 trillion in 2008 alone? He should know better that GOP got spanking last November at the polls. It is time for the GOP in exile to offer new alternatives, not the old Tax cuts mantra which has brought this nation and its people on the brink of disaster.

October 17, 2009 10:06 am at 10:06 am |

Mike in Texas

The last 8 eight years the deficit grew by record numbers under a Republican white house and 6 of 8 yrs of a republican congress. Entitlements, Defense and Homeland Security make up 85% of the budget. The Repubs did nothing to address the increasing costs of entitlements in the last 8 years. In fact they increased them substantially by passing the Medicare bill of 2003. Add to that, Bush repealed Clinton's tax increase. There are two ways to shoot up a deficit. 1)Spend More and 2)Make less. The Repubs managed to do both.

Most of the interest being paid is paying for the huge run up that Rebups have created. Unless the Repubs have a plan to cut back cost of entitlments (which I doubt they do) even a Repub congress or President is going to rack up huge deficits also.

They and their failed "trickle down" theory, coupled with their deregulation fervor, caused this mess. Now Republicans refuse to cooperate and help find solutions for problems that they very clearly helped to create. Why? Politics. Early in this Administration, they made the decision to oppose, oppose, oppose, rather than roll up their sleeves and help, afraid that somehow Democrats would get more credit than they would. This has forced Obama to tack to the left, which he clearly does not want to do! He would much prefer moderate coalitions, going just far enough left and right to get things done. It is not the President, or even the Democrats who are failing. It is the Republicans. If Republicans want to make a contract with America again, why not make one thgat will work? Why not tack back towards the center, where they used to be, and help us move forward? What a concept, huh?

October 17, 2009 10:09 am at 10:09 am |

GI Joe

I heard him, and he's as full of negativity and fear as the rest of the GOP – just trying to protect his profits from Insurance Companies and Wall Street.

October 17, 2009 10:09 am at 10:09 am |

Sam Sixpack

The mindless flocking after Obama is driven by spite. The obvious doesn't, such as: if you take money out of Medicare, you must reduce the level of care. The ocean of fraud and efficiency argument is an obvious lie – if it were true, Obama could fix that problem RIGHT NOW.

Gleefully cutting off one's own nose does not spite those nasty Republicans.

October 17, 2009 10:15 am at 10:15 am |

not alone

So the repulilcan party is off it's rocker again.First it was the repulican congress and senate the passed NAFTA that then president Clinton signed then that same congress and senate passed the bills for LAFTA that thier president sghned LAFTA then gave away free trade to China.It's thier contributers to the republicans elections that took all those jobs oversea's.Its sorta the pot callin the kettle black,it's the big gest joke i hear about them complaining about how many jobs THEY let go over sea's and now only to complain about it now and not THEN..
Where were they when we was shedding 750,000 jobs a month before the CURRENT president took office in January(not my pick),and I beflieve their candidate was saying then those jobs where gone and not comming back(how right he was).The repulicans wern't doing anything then why would they do anything now(other then complain about the mess they made back then).the mess is theirs and they need to own up to that one(granted the dems where signing on to theis fast track trade bills as well.
As far as health care goes,control it now or it eats what money we can print later(we all know that much is true),And really we need to start reforming thies out-of-control insureance companys' now and not wait tell the bleed the nation dry.As well giving better care to all americans that are at the will of their death(for profit) panels that already exist in the insureance companys.
So please give a break and start getting to work for the country's best interests by acually doing some work for us and not slamming in ways of polical statmens and sounding like childern who had their toys takin away for being bad..

October 17, 2009 10:16 am at 10:16 am |

Kevin Collins

As usual, the GOP is so hypocritical in that they're warning that future generations will have to pay for all this debt when Bush left office with a record deficit - just like his daddy did. Apparently, it's OK to rack up trillions of debt just as long as you're a Republican.

October 17, 2009 10:17 am at 10:17 am |

Nick

Bradly, our children and grand-children, and great-grand-children and great-great-grand-children were buried beneath a mountain of debt by GWB and outher spend and barrow Republicans who pocketed the $$$ from non-bid contracts to elect other Republicans like themselves and they didn't get a thig for it.... not one thing. At least with this debt they will get health care.

October 17, 2009 10:19 am at 10:19 am |

We Won Get Over It

Gee he ought to explain the republican myth...you know like, you know they one that says there is really a republican party.

October 17, 2009 10:20 am at 10:20 am |

GOPer

Please. First of all, it was GOPer Cheney that said deficits don't matter while so-called "conservatives" were creating record-breaking deficits/debt.

Next, the rate of unemployment has fortunately been slowing. But where are the Party of NO plans beyond their negativity of constant criticisms that help NOthing?

I am not getting tired, I am just getting started and I am Fired Up. Thats what nobama says and soon he will be overwhelmed by Conservatives which are tired of his spending, we are just getting started with our tea parties, etc and nobama will be "fired" in 2012. Starting November 2009, we will start electing conservatives who will return our country to fiscal responsibility. Oh yes "HOPE AND CHANGE IS COMING".

October 17, 2009 10:24 am at 10:24 am |

Ren from Baltimore

Congressman Brady,

What we are not buying are the vestiges of harm to our national way of life brought on by the last administration. The first trillion dollar war ($1,000,000,000,000); precipitous drops in government revenue, moneys shifted to the top 2 percent of the poplation as sheer profit and government bail-out money when it didn't come quickly enough for you; a loss in global respect for America, with the associated loss of income, partnership, all coupled with increasing chaos to the world order; tremendous loss of American intellectual power, either shunted off to "Wall Street," "Insurance," "Pharma," or simply never realized due to decreased opportunities for college or jobs.

Texas, which was my home forover twelve wonderful years, that most friendly of states, the state which rebounded so well from the oil crash of the early 1980s, seems to have turned into a cauldron of hatred and spite. You and your Governor, sincerely, have no room to criticize the present Administration,.